Stuck in the Suburbs

...if only Disney had stayed away from it. See, I think that this movie has some potential. Well, the main character's situation does, at least. Take out the whole Jordan Cahill thing, and you've got the beginnings of a decent movie! Of course, you also lose more than half of the film, but, oh well. Not that much of a loss.

So, here it goes: you take a typical, preppy, suburban teenage girl (Danielle Panabaker, who's actually a decent actress) whose best friends screech a lot, mostly over a "pop sensation" (I'm assuming it's a direct quote from the movie; movie's like this almost always involve that particular phrase) named Jordan Cahill. Except, of course, TPSTG wants more out of life. Enter Brenda Song's character, a sophisticated individual who is just what TPSTG needs (honestly, I don't care what the character's real name is, I like the acronym better). The two new friends go to see Jordan Cahill (one to drool, one to make fun of the droolers), and they come out of it with his cell phone. Hijinks ensue, and everything turns out alright in the end.

If only Disney, or any major film studio for that matter, didn't have such a low opinion of 8 to 14 year olds. Or maybe if 8 to 14 year olds expected a little more out of the movies targeted at them. It's sugar-coated crap like this that make me more than a little unsure who to be more disgusted with (a little film called 'High School Musical' comes to mind...)

Decent watch, probably won't watch again, and can't really recommend.

The movie is good enough. Danielle Panabaker and Brenda Song do a good job carrying most of the movie, but I don't know told Taran Killam he could play a teen pop star.

The ladies look about 5 years older than their schoolmates, and Killam about 5 years older than that, so it's super awkward anytime they share the screen with other actors.

This is "teen drama" mixed with "swapped phones" and a bit of "blackmailed celebrity". The story just doesn't have a lot of substance, there isn't any lesson, and the characters are barely redeemable when it comes down to it.

It's a fun, maybe younger audiences might like it more, but most likely the dated technology is going to be off-putting for them.

Okay at the end of the movie the girls are coming home from soccer, and they are all obviously friends.

Jordan is on the phone with Brittany, and the girls are excited to see their music video on the TV.

The girls got to dance in the video, i get that.. but can someone explain to me how come Eddie was the star of the video.

I thought it was Jordan's video to do?

If anyone could email me and explain the answer to this question that would be really great...

soccerhockeychick19@hotmail.com ~Nicole~

If this movie was anything else but a Disney Channel Original Movie it'd be a disaster. I'm not the target audience but I've grown with DCOM like High School Musical and Camp rock which today I still enjoy, so I look at these movies with different nostalgic eyes. But the plot is messy to the point of being confussing and the inconsistencies in regards to many technological and straight up pop-star-world-related misconceptions could be overlooked if not for the abundance of them.

The plot came full circle in many themes and subplots it set up so the ending of the movie does feel like a fulfilling conclusion yet the second act (or middle of the movie) it's completely ridicolous because it doesn't provide reasons for the plot to unravel that way. They are in the same town and yet the celebrity or the assistant couldn't have found the phone sooner? It sure lend to funny and character development moments but it felt too unrealistic. Other movies like High School Musical and Camp Rock don't have that many unrealistic scenarios and work coherently with the development of the plot.

IN CONCLUSION, the movie is a fun movie for kids alone, especially suburban kids. Adults might find beats of it interesting related to being stuck in a boring place, not conforming with social norms and staying true to yourself and your loved ones (a Disney staple). It's not that self-aware of its mistakes because the movie concerns itself in making it work and fun. It could have been a little deeper in its message but it decided to have this clean superficial cut. Again, dumb downed and fun for kids

Despite being in his early twenties, Taran Killam's performance as Jordan Cahill feels oddly similar to fellow SNL alum Andy Samberg's Conner4Real (from "Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping"). Disney did Drew Seeley dirty-passing on him for the role of Jordan, only to cast him as the Front Desk Clerk.

"Stuck in the Suburbs" main strengths are the early aught nostalgia and the leading Disney girls-Danielle Panabaker and Brenda Song. The power fantasy premise of controlling a pop star's career might still be entertaining for younger viewers, but the plot runs dry before the end, resulting in multiple reflective montages.